Sustainable Tiny Living with a Composting Toilet

Ever wonder what it’s really like to live in a tiny house with a composting toilet? Not just the dreamy Pinterest version—but the real, day-to-day stuff like hauling water, figuring out city parking laws, and dealing with winter in 200 square feet? In this interview, Isabelle shares what it’s been like living full-time in the tiny home she built herself with a focus on sustainability and eco-friendliness.

With six years of experience, she’s learned a lot—about simplicity, sustainability, and what actually works when it comes to off-grid living. Whether you’re planning your own build or just curious, her story is honest, down-to-earth, and packed with helpful insights.

What did life look like before you moved into your off-grid tiny house? 

I didn’t know what I wanted to do with my life or where I wanted to live. I had studied natural building and was inspired by the idea of building a house that could move. I wanted a lifestyle with less of a negative environmental impact, closer to nature, freedom to move, and less belongings to be responsible for. I also wanted to live alone and for less than renting.

Tell us more about your off-grid tiny house!

I built it. It’s a 24′ tiny house on wheels. I have hired professional transporters to move it. It has a full kitchen and bathroom.

Tell us about something you love about your space! 

I love the big windows, natural building materials/continuous ventilation, reclaimed wood, tiny wood stove, the fact that it has everything I need, and it’s a beautiful space to live in.

What’s something you’d want to change about your space?

I would build it differently on the subfloor to mitigate thermal bridging and moisture challenges in the winter. I would remove gas and be fully electric to help with indoor air quality.

What are the biggest challenges with this type of lifestyle? What are the biggest benefits? 

Finding a place to park it. Builders in the industry claiming they know how to build tiny houses on wheels, and choosing crappy materials and building methods that don’t support small space living and human health. People buy these homes and experience a large array of issues. Having a composting toilet can be a lot of work.

The biggest benefits are freedom, beauty, and nature.

What does a typical day look like?

My daily routine didn’t really change except for having to empty a composting toilet, deal with heated hoses and freezing in the winter, find places to park and transporters.

Tell us about your toilet solution! 

I live in the PNW and gnats in the toilet were a huge problem. Emptying a composting toilet (that actually composted in the base) was an added chore. I loved being able to compost my waste when I lived on a farm, but in the City it was more of a challenge. I decided to rent my tiny house out long term and that would have been really difficult. I tried three composting toilets and the Throne was the best option for ease of dumping/cleaning. If I was not retrofitting it then I would have plumbed in the urine diverter.

Urine goes into a grey water french drain and #2 goes in the trash.

Has your Throne solved the problems you were trying to address? 

It did!

Finances can be a major crux for getting into this lifestyle. Do you have any advice?

Buy second hand, do your research, and save up.

What is one question you frequently get asked about your lifestyle, and what’s your answer?

Was it hard to live in such a small space with a large dog? My answer is sometimes in the winter, but mostly no we loved it!